Police seek daughter of Fairfield woman found dead in home as 'person of interest'

FAIRFIELD -- Authorities said they are looking for the daughter of a 74-year-old Fairfield woman who was killed Thursday as a "person of interest."

Tina Lunney, 41, was last seen by relatives at noon Friday, a day after her mother Marie Zoppi, 74, was found dead at their home at 20 Cole Road, said Deputy Chief Steven Gutkin of Fairfield police.

Police first reported to the house at approximately 9:20 a.m. Thursday after Lunney's husband, Christopher Lunney, called 911 and said Zoppi was unconscious on her bedroom floor in a lower level of the house, Gutkin said.

Zoppi was already dead when officers arrived at the scene, said Paul Loriquet, spokesman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

There was no evidence that a home invasion had taken place, Loriquet said. He declined to release information on the cause of Zoppi's death.

Gutkin declined to say if Tina Lunney was a suspect in Zoppi's death.

"Tina Lunney is a person of interest wanted in connection with the homicide," Gutkin said.

Besides her daughter and son-in-law, Zoppi had two grandchildren, a 10-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy, according to neighbors.

Efforts to immediately reach relatives of the family were unsuccessful.

"They are normal, everyday people," said Charles Digiore, a neighbor. "Lovely people, typical family of four."

Helen Morganti described Zoppi as her neighbor and friend.

"She was very sweet," Morganti said. "She was a lovely person. She was a happy grandma."

Morganti described Zoppi as a petite, delicate woman and a devout Roman Catholic, who walked everyday to Saint Thomas More Church on Horseneck Road for Mass.

Morganti said they would often chat about family and church.

"I am going to miss her terribly," Morganti said. "I can't conceive this woman is now gone. God, I hope whatever happened to her, I hope she didn't suffer. I hope God took her quickly."

Anyone with information about the homicide should call the prosecutor's office at (877) TIPS4EC, (877) 847-7432 or the Fairfield police at (973) 227-1400.